按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Did she know where they had gone to？
This and other inquiries resulted in the information that they
had gone to the hotel at Monte Carlo； that how long they were
going to stay there； and whether they were coming back again；
was not known。 His final question whether Miss Power had
received a letter from England which must have arrived the day
previous was answered in the affirmative。
Somerset's first and sudden resolve was to follow on after
them to the hotel named； but he finally decided to make his
immediate visit to Monte Carlo only a cautious reconnoitre；
returning to Nice to sleep。
Accordingly； after an early dinner； he again set forth through
the broad Avenue de la Gare； and an hour on the coast railway
brought him to the beautiful and sinister little spot to which
the Power and De Stancy party had strayed in common with the
rest of the frivolous throng。
He assumed that their visit thither would be chiefly one of
curiosity； and therefore not prolonged。 This proved to be the
case in even greater measure than he had anticipated。 On
inquiry at the hotel he learnt that they had stayed only one
night； leaving a short time before his arrival； though it was
believed that some of the party were still in the town。
In a state of indecision Somerset strolled into the gardens of
the Casino； and looked out upon the sea。 There it still lay；
calm yet lively； of an unmixed blue； yet variegated； hushed；
but articulate even to melodiousness。 Everything about and
around this coast appeared indeed jaunty； tuneful； and at
ease； reciprocating with heartiness the rays of the splendid
sun； everything； except himself。 The palms and flowers on the
terraces before him were undisturbed by a single cold breath。
The marble work of parapets and steps was unsplintered by
frosts。 The whole was like a conservatory with the sky for
its dome。
For want of other occupation he went round towards the public
entrance to the Casino； and ascended the great staircase into
the pillared hall。 It was possible； after all； that upon
leaving the hotel and sending on their luggage they had taken
another turn through the rooms； to follow by a later train。
With more than curiosity he scanned first the reading…rooms；
only however to see not a face that he knew。 He then crossed
the vestibule to the gaming…tables。
IV。
Here he was confronted by a heated phantasmagoria of splendour
and a high pressure of suspense that seemed to make the air
quiver。 A low whisper of conversation prevailed； which might
probably have been not wrongly defined as the lowest note of
social harmony。
The people gathered at this negative pole of industry had come
from all civilized countries； their tongues were familiar with
many forms of utterance； that of each racial group or type
being unintelligible in its subtler variations； if not
entirely； to the rest。 But the language of meum and tuum they
collectively comprehended without translation。 In a half…
charmed spell…bound state they had congregated in knots；
standing； or sitting in hollow circles round the notorious
oval tables marked with figures and lines。 The eyes of all
these sets of people were watching the Roulette。 Somerset
went from table to table； looking among the loungers rather
than among the regular players； for faces； or at least for one
face； which did not meet his gaze。
The suggestive charm which the centuries…old impersonality
Gaming； rather than games and gamesters； had for Somerset； led
him to loiter on even when his hope of meeting any of the
Power and De Stancy party had vanished。 As a non…participant
in its profits and losses； fevers and frenzies； it had that
stage effect upon his imagination which is usually exercised
over those who behold Chance presented to them with
spectacular piquancy without advancing far enough in its
acquaintance to suffer from its ghastly reprisals and impish
tricks。 He beheld a hundred diametrically opposed wishes
issuing from the murky intelligences around a table； and
spreading down across each other upon the figured diagram in
their midst； each to its own number。 It was a network of
hopes； which at the announcement； 'Sept； Rouge； Impair； et
Manque；' disappeared like magic gossamer； to be replaced in a
moment by new。 That all the people there； including himself；
could be interested in what to the eye of perfect reason was a
somewhat monotonous thingthe property of numbers to recur at
certain longer or shorter intervals in a machine containing
themin other words； the blind groping after fractions of a
result the whole of which was well knownwas one testimony
among many of the powerlessness of logic when confronted with
imagination。
At this juncture our lounger discerned at one of the tables
about the last person in the world he could have wished to
encounter there。 It was Dare； whom he had supposed to be a
thousand miles off； hanging about the purlieus of Markton。
Dare was seated beside a table in an attitude of application
which seemed to imply that he had come early and engaged in
this pursuit in a systematic manner。 Somerset had never
witnessed Dare and De Stancy together； neither had he heard of
any engagement of Dare by the travelling party as artist；
courier； or otherwise； and yet it crossed his mind that Dare
might have had something to do with them； or at least have
seen them。 This possibility was enough to overmaster
Somerset's reluctance to speak to the young man； and he did so
as soon as an opportunity occurred。
Dare's face was as rigid and dry as if it had been encrusted
with plaster； and he was like one turned into a computing
machine which no longer had the power of feeling。 He
recognized Somerset as indifferently as if he had met him in
the ward of Stancy Castle； and replying to his remarks by a
word or two； concentrated on the game anew。
'Are you here alone？' said Somerset presently。
'Quite alone。' There was a silence； till Dare added； 'But I
have seen some friends of yours。' He again became absorbed in
the events of the table。 Somerset retreated a few steps； and
pondered the question whether Dare could know where they had
gone。 He disliked to be beholden to Dare for information； but
he would give a great deal to know。 While pausing he watched
Dare's play。 He staked only five…franc pieces； but it was
done with an assiduity worthy of larger coin。 At every half…
minute or so he placed his money on a certain spot； and as
regularly had the mortification of seeing it swept away by the
croupier's rake。 After a while he varied his procedure。 He
risked his money； which from the look of his face seemed
rather to have dwindled than increased； less recklessly
against long odds than before。 Leaving off backing numbers en
plein； he laid his venture a cheval； then tried it upon the
dozens； then upon two numbers； then upon a square； and；
apparently getting nearer and nearer defeat； at last upon the
simple chances of even or odd； over or under； red or black。
Yet with a few fluctuations in his favour fortune bore
steadily against him； till he could breast her blows no
longer。 He rose from the table and came towards So